Lots of power, controlled and detailed bass.

Hums, no gold plated inputs, overspecified, does not sound to great.

I bought this amp in combination with a carver C-6 pre-amp mainly because of the very positive reviews on this site.
I'm not an audiophile, but I do know that this amp does not sound great at all. Bass is tight and powerful, but voices just don't sound realistic and the treble isn't what it should be. Soundstage is also not too good. Sure it has lots of power, but no way it can deliver 2X251 Watts into 8 Ohms 20-20.000Hz! Amps that can weigh at least twice as much as this amp and have much/more larger transformers and capacitors. It's jst a matter of simple physics!
I also used the preamp of my NAD C320 different sources and different interconnects; same results. My speakers are Totem Arro's.
I don't want to point the finger at anyone or this site, but I learned the hard way that reviews can be very subjective and you should never go blind on them!

Similar Products Used:

NAD 317, NAD C320, Sony ta-FB940R.

Very reliable design. A fast amp even for todays home theather requirements with plenty of reserve.

Really needs a dedicated line source of high current 110v. No power switch on the original M500.

I have had two M500's (not the T version) for twelve years with the only problem being a burned out meter light. Carver supplied a replacement. These amps are used in the bridged mode along with the the Carver C4000 preamp and a set of older Cerwin Vega H15's which are soon to replaced with a set of Paradigm Studio 60's, and a servo 15 sub. My main source of material has been music although with the family getting older, the kids are pushing for home theather. I am considering moving up to an Integra receiver but keeping the M500's and even trying to locate another to provide for six channels of of clean 251 watts.

Even though the C4000 may be retired for the latest in high tech, I intend to keep the M500's going till I can hear anymore.

Similar Products Used:

Carver C4000, Second M500.

good looks..very detailed with very good power.like the power meters are very accurate.

can't think of any.has slight hum,but doesn't come through speakers.

i've used this amp for nearly 10 yrs.never had any trouble with it.thought of upgrading it,but it performs well,and won't die.i am using with 1.6 maggies and have more than enough power for these power hungry speakers.these are the best amps bob carver has made.if you can pick them up cheap,go for it.

Similar Products Used:

marantz receiver.

Power, light weight (relatively speaking), VU Meters

none

I have really enjoyed my M-500t amplifier. I bought it in 1986 when I acquired my dbx soundfield 1a speakers and have been in seventh heaven ever since. A few years later I acquired another M-500t and ran them in monoblocked mode until I acquired a pair of Silver 7t monoblocks. The 500ts then were pressed into surround sound service, while a M-200t ran the front center channel. Well, that last one was the weak link. Now I have the M-500t bridged in mono driving the front center channel (also a dbx speaker) and the result is nothing short of awsome.

About 4 years ago, I lost the smoke on one M-500t. I sent it off to Carver and they repaired it and shipped it home for $225. (A main power filer cap. blew.) I'm set guys... you can keep the adcom, thiel, crown, B&W, etc. stuff, as I'm set. Add to this setup a sony data grade video projector and Lexicon CP3 and I'll have the popcorn ready for any move or sound track you care to listen to! :-0)

Similar Products Used:

Silver 7T Monoblocks, and lately a pair of M4.0t

Looks nice :)

Diffuse and uncontroled sound. This amp has no 'real' power - certainly not in the bass where you really need it. It has the power to blow speakers, but not to give them a tight and detailed sound - it is always diffuse, loud and diffuse perhaps, but diffuse :)

This is NOT a 'clean' 'clear' or 'detailed and controled' amp as people here say. The sound is diffuse (some call this airy, but it is a form of distortion really - the lack of control over the speakers) and blurry in the bass, and the highs are rather subdued - not a quick or detailed 'in your room' sound so much as a reverberant 'in your dreams' sound - do you follow?

If you enjoy the COLORATION of this amp, more power to ya! :)

I give this product a higher than average rating because if you like it's sound, it's not a bad deal - it's not gawdawful by any means - not annoying, just not real in an absolute sense - things are 'interpreted' by this amp, rather than simply 'amplified' - good way to put it! "interpreted"!!

Similar Products Used:

tube amps, anything with real low damping or low current.

Power, clean sound, great looks, those meters.

Maybe harsh? on high end, but more likely my speakers.

I have 4 of them.

Mono 500 watts each for the front left, center and right; 250 a side for the surrounds in a DD/HT setup.

Will buy a fifth if the price is right.

Main speakers: JBL L-100t (black lacquer,3way, 12in woofer)
Center: Definitive CLR-3000 (1",2-6.5,10"sub,amped)
Rear: JBL L1 (same tweet as main, 6.5 woofer)
Sub: Sunfire True Sub Signature, JBL PSW-1200
PreAmp: Sony ES 2000
CD: Sony ES
DVD: Pioneer Laser Disc combo unit

I love these amps. To me they are one of the best looking ever made. The rack mounts, although not typically necessary, provide an image of strength in addition to the two huge meters on each. We watch a lot of video concerts on DVD's, and it's a pleasure to glance over and see the needles bouncing in tune with the music.

When they're standing straight up, it serves as a reminder to back off a bit before the neighbors call the police again .

I bought the first one when it was still a current production model, (what was that, 15 years ago?). It sometimes had trouble starting up if it had been turned off, so is now kept on all the times. Meter lights went out on one, but no other problems from the four. Sometimes I do worry if the 25 or so year old wiring in the house will burn up with each of these baby's running full blast.

I'm by no means an 'audiophile', but thouroughly enjoy the music and movies these amps support in my meager system. The tweets on the old JBL's would be considered by some harsh, but the Carver's drive the speakers effortlessly. Can't ever remember these amps reaching their limit. Speakers and/or our ears always give out first. Bass response, even without the sub, gives you that 'whack' in the chest reminescent of a live concert.

Switching to Definitive 2000 mains and BPX surrounds soon, but will never replace the Carver amps. Not too bad for music, particularly for the price (ebay?). They are fantastic in a home theater setup and for those who crave 'More Power', are highly recommended.

Similar Products Used:

Carver TFM-6, & 6b; various receivers

effortless, un-colored power delivery, ability to drive low impedance speakers, prettiest amp mad

"tacked on" rack handles needed to match some Carver equipment. Difficult to get serviced til Bob gets back at the helm of Carver Corp.

I purchased my first M-500t brand new in 1986. I mated it to a Carver C-1 preamp to drive a pair of infinity bookshelf speakers. It has served me faithfully since that time. I recently purchased a second M-500t off of ebay to bi-amp my newly acquired Carver Amazing Loudspeakers (platinum edition). I've always enjoyed the sound character of the amp, being very clean and uncolored. I've never been able to drive it to clipping. These beautys in bi-amp configuration really woke up my amazings. I've had one instance where the amp required service, but that was due to poor wiring in an apartment I was living in. I would recommend this amp to all but the most jaded audiophile. It's performance to price ratio is outstanding. It only lacks a pedigree to match its performance. I also happen to think it was one of the most attractive amps made.

This is to follow up on my previous post.

I have always desired to get these amps for every channel on my home theater system. I finally got me a second one, and I have in the works to get 3 more.

Since I had the second amp, I went ahead and bridged the 2 for my left and right. Let me tell you, the soundstage has opened dramtically. I cannot believe that by "doubling" the power, music can sound more "real." When I listen to piano music, its as if the piano is in my living room! Sure, it sounded great before, but the difference between having the 1 amp for left and right, to dedicating an amp for the left and right is like night and day.

I particularly like Pink Floyds "Dark Side of the Moon" with this configuration. I can hear the dialogs clearly, and the clock sequence is stagering - like real clocks in my living room.

I also managed to get me a Carver M1.0t - but this amp does not compare with the M-500t. The M1.0t is very bright compared to the M-500t.

These Carvers are amazing, and continue to amaze me even when I try to listen to other amps in high end music stores. I just cannot find a solid state amp that can rival this Carver M-500t.

If you have one, get another and bridge them. You can thank me later!

Sound

none,

I've owned , used and tested all of the amps listed above in the similar products section. The best sounding of them all was the carver m500t. It currently is powering the two front speakers in my home theater set up through a Denon 3801 receiver. Previous to that it was powering the two front speaker through a sony str dae es 777.
Purchased on ebay a year a go it has performed flawlessly.
The sound satge is wide and open. The bass is light tight and defined. The best I've heard from carver and i've tried a few.
In stereo only applications and home theater it pushs my vandies (vandersteen 1bs) wide and deep without ever straining.
Highly recommended for a test drive.

associated equipement
Denon avr 3801 receiver
panasonic 5 dvd changer
Pioneer 301 cd changer
pioneer ld
panasonic 36 in tv

Similar Products Used:

carver tfm 6, carver tfm-15, carver tfm 25, carver av705, carver m1.0t, jolida 302, jolida 1501

nice powerful amplifier 251 watts pc or 500 watts mono.

none

sound is clean and powerful. build quality is excellent.
it even has nice looks, and analog power meters on the front pannel. This product model year is in the late 70's
to early 80's. I bought it used and i am no sure of exact
model year.

Similar Products Used:

carver tfm 4.0